Daijiworld Media Network – Beirut

Beirut, Aug 6: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem of acting in a way that serves Israel rather than protecting Lebanon's sovereignty, intensifying tensions ahead of US-backed talks between Lebanon and Israel.

Salam's remarks came after Qassem accused the Lebanese government of making "free concessions" to Israel and urged authorities to engage in dialogue with Hezbollah, which he referred to as the "resistance".

Responding to the allegations, Salam said those who had unilaterally drawn Lebanon into conflicts had provided Israel with justification to target the country, damage infrastructure and cause civilian suffering.

"The greatest service rendered to Israel has been provided by those who dragged Lebanon into wartime adventures," Salam said in a post on X.

The dispute comes amid ongoing efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah had launched attacks against Israel on October 8, 2023, following Hamas' attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people.

Salam said national dialogue and unity could only be achieved by accepting realities and taking responsibility for decisions that had caused heavy losses for Lebanon.

He criticised those who, according to him, attempted to control decisions of war and peace while linking Lebanon to external interests.

Meanwhile, analysts said the conflict has significantly weakened Hezbollah. Harel Chorev, a senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center, said the war resulted in major losses for the group, including the killing of longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024 and other senior commanders.

Chorev said Hezbollah's decision to enter the conflict had proved costly, leading to damage to its military infrastructure and weakening support among parts of its base.

The group has also faced increasing political isolation within Lebanon, with growing calls for the state to have sole control over weapons and foreign policy decisions.

A survey conducted in Lebanon in May reportedly showed strong support among several communities for reaching an agreement with Israel. Public figures have also launched initiatives calling for state control over arms and diplomatic negotiations.

However, Chorev said eliminating Hezbollah militarily would not be realistic and warned that rebuilding the group's leadership and infrastructure could take years, while facing continued opposition.